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Residents' memories of market amid mystery closure

Shannen Headley & Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands
BBC Two women, the one on the left has red hair, is wearing black and a black scarf with pink prints. Her jacket has a heart pin and lightning shaped pin. The woman on the right is wearing a black hat, oval tinted glasses, a blue top and black leather jacket. BBC
Amber Hennebray and Jane Hughes said the Oasis Market was a big part of their youth

Shoppers of a much-loved city centre market have said its sudden closure has left them "sick" and would be a huge loss to Birmingham's high street.

The Priory Square shopping centre temporarily closed its doors on Tuesday for health and safety checks, the owners told the BBC on Thursday.

But residents fear there could be a permanent closure which would mean the loss of The Oasis market, which is inside the centre.

Leon Trott, who has lived in Birmingham for 70 years, said "a big part of the city would be missing".

A man wearing a black hat, green jacket, grey hoodie and navy blue backpack with a lightening design. He is stood infront of a shop called The Oasis
Leon Trott said the thought of the market closing for good made him feel "sick"

Mr Trott, who moved to Birmingham from Bermuda, said the city centre had been "depleted" since the pandemic.

"Every shop is closed, what are locals to do? I used to work here, I have friends that still work there.

"I feel sick. It's a part of me that's missing. It's a part of the city that's missing."

Jane Hughes, who lives in Kings Norton, said she met two of her husbands at the market, which has operated since the 1970s.

"It's a big part of my youth and life and I'm sad that it's closed. It will be another bit of Birmingham history that will just be gone."

She recalled the moment she met her husband at The Oasis' basement cafe on her 18th birthday in January 1983.

A mother and son stood infront of a shop front. The woman, with blonde short hair, is wearing a black Adidas jacket. the man, is wearing a grey hoodie, with the hood up. He has dark brown hair with a side fringe and a beard.
Sam Jones and her son Corey Parton said if the market closes, it would be a big loss to the city

"I was in the cafe having a cup of tea, spending my birthday money and he rocked in with his messy mohawk and looking disreputable - and I thought I liked that."

Amber Hennebray, also from Kings Norton, said she spent her teenage years at the market.

She said she would be "devastated" if the closure was permanent. Addressing the owners, she said: "Let it open, it's been around for years, keep up with the nostalgia."

Sam Jones, who has had tattoos at The Oasis, had hoped to get another one done for Mother's Day.

"I was hoping to get another one today," said Ms Jones, whose had travelled there from Telford with her son Cory Parton.

"It's a big part of the city, if it closes it will definately be a big loss."

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